Helioceratops

Say it like this: “HEE-lee-o-SEH-ruh-tops”

Helioceratops brachygnathus

Helioceratops ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Early Cretaceous. Bones have been found in China.

Quiz me on Helioceratops

When: Early Cretaceous (Aptian · Albian) · roughly 121.4 to 100.5 million years ago
Named in: 2009 · Jin, L.; Chen, J.; Zan, S.; Godefroit, P.
Hip height: Not established
Length: 1.3 m · 4 ft
Weight: 20 kg · 44 lb
Found in: China · Quantou
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: horned dinosaur · Ceratopsian
Family branch: Neoceratopsia

The story in short

Helioceratops was formally named in 2009 by L. Jin and colleagues. The name means “sun horned face.”

Fossils referred to Helioceratops date to the Early Cretaceous (Aptian · Albian), roughly 121.4 to 100.5 million years ago. Finds come from China, including the Quantou Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Helioceratops at a length near 1.3 m and a body mass around 20 kg.

On the family tree it sits in Neoceratopsia, among the horned dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Aquilops

Aquilops americanus

Early Cretaceous (Albian) · roughly 113.2 to 100.5 million years ago

Archaeoceratops

Archaeoceratops oshimai

Early Cretaceous (Aptian · Albian) · roughly 121.4 to 100.5 million years ago

Asiaceratops

Asiaceratops salsopaludalis

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) · roughly 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago